Serbia–Switzerland relations

Serbian–Swiss relations
Map indicating locations of Serbia and Switzerland

Serbia
Switzerland

Serbia and Switzerland maintain diplomatic relations that were formally established in 1916.[1] Between 1918 and 2006, Switzerland maintained relations with the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Serbia is considered the legal successor to those states.[2]

Today, the bilateral relationship is structured around a series of agreements and cooperation within multilateral organizations. Switzerland maintains an embassy in Belgrade, and the two countries collaborate on economic matters, migration, education, research, and cultural exchange.[3] Switzerland also supports Serbia's reform plans and European integration path through its 2022–2025 cooperation strategy, implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).[3]

Both states cooperate in multilateral organizations, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), where they chaired consecutively in 2014 and 2015, and in the Swiss-led voting constituencies at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.[3]

History

Switzerland recognized the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1919, a state later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. A Swiss legation was opened in Belgrade in 1940 and was elevated to an embassy in 1957.[3] After the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Switzerland continued relations with the newly formed Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. Following Montenegro’s independence in 2006, Serbia assumed the international treaties previously signed with Switzerland.[3]

Economic relations

Trade between two countries amounted to $765 million in 2023; Serbia's merchandise export to Switzerland were about $263 million; Swiss exports were standing at roughly $502 million.[4]

Immigration from Serbia

Further information: Immigration from the former Yugoslavia to Switzerland

There are around 59,000 people of Serbian descent living in Switzerland.[5]

Resident diplomatic missions

  • Embassy of Serbia in Bern
    Embassy of Serbia in Bern

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bilateral Political Relations". mfa.gov.rs. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
  2. ^ "Country programme framework". UNDP Serbia. UNDP. Archived from the original on 5 May 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Bilateral relations Switzerland–Serbia". Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). 11 June 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  4. ^ https://pks.rs/pregled-spoljnotrgovinskih-kretanja
  5. ^ "Statistiques sur l'immigration" (PDF). State Secretariat for Migration (Switzerland) (in Swiss French). 27 September 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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